Automatic feed for steam-boilers.



No. 836,511. lPATNT/ED NOV. 20, 1906. F. M. G. DELA ROGHEFOUGAULD & M. J. MELAND.

AUTOMATIG lFEED PoR STEAM BOILERS.

APP-LICLATIONy FILED AUG. 21. 1906. I

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, PATENT/ED NOV. 20, 19.06. I'. M. G. DE LA ROOHEFOUOAULD @n M. J. MELAND.

AUTOMATIC FEED FOR STEAM BOITIERS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 21, 1906.

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ANO. 836,511. V MII-:Imam Nomo, 1906.

I. M. e. DE LA. ROGHEPOUGAULD I M. I. MELAND.

AUTOMATIGFEED FOR STEAM BOIL'RS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. T21. 190e.

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ERANcoIS MARIE GASTON DE LA RocHEEoUoAULD AND MAURICE JUSTIN MELAND, oE PARIS, FRANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application led August 21. 1906. Serial No. 331,440.

To all whom t muy concern.-

Be it known that we, FRANoIs MARIE GASTON DE LA RooI-IEEoUoAULD, a resident of 4 Rue Auguste Vacquerie, and MAURICE JUSTIN MELAND, a resident of 4 Rue de Calais, Paris, France, citizens of the Republic of France, have invented a new and useful Automatic Feed Apparatus for Steam-Boilers and other Receptacles Under Pressure, of which the following is a specification.

Automatic feed apparatus already exist, consisting, essentially, of a vessel divided toward its lower part by a movable horizontal diaphragm, above which such vessel is in open communication with the receptacle which it is desired to feed, so that the liquid is at the same level in the two spaces. Below the first diaphragm a second is arranged, on the under face of which the pressure of the water which is to serve as the feed and which may proceed either from a conduit under pressure or from a reservoir under pressure acts. When the level in the receptacle falls,

it falls equally in the feed apparatus, and consequently the weight of liquid carried by the upper diaphragm decreases. The respective areas of the two diaphragms being suitably pressure of the feed-water, the action of the latter on the lower diaphragm is sufficient to raise it and to raise with it the upper one, which is in one therewith in its movements, when the level falls to a determined extent, and it is this rising movement which is utilized for opening a valve, so as to place the receptacle to be fed in communication with the feed-supply and to thus admit thereto liquid until the level shall be raised sufficiently that the action of the upper diaphragm again preponderates; but these apparatus are not practically applicable when any considerable pressure exists in the receptacle to be fed, and, for example, they cannot be employed for a steam-boiler, for the feed-water must then have a very high pressure, as the pressure of the steam adds its action on the upper diaphragm to that of the weight of water which it supports.

The invention relates to an automatic feed apparatus based on an analogous principle to that which has just been indicated, but modified, however, in such manner that this apparatus may serve to feed receptacles where any pressure exists without it being necessary to increase the pressure of the feedwater.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is an elevation of the complete apparatus. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 illustrate in vertical section, respectively, the feed apparatus proper, the drum which conveys the feed liquid to this latter, and the tank which lls the drum after each feed. Fig. 5 is a part end view of the A ball-cock valve applied to the tank.

Broadly, the apparatus may be said to consist of the feed apparatus proper, l, ofa tank 2, and of a feed-drum 3, placed between these two.

The feed apparatus proper, besides the two diaphragms 4 and 5, situated beneath the liquid and which, by moving together, operate the admission-valve 6, carries two other diaphragms 7 and 8, situated above the liquid, and which, in their movements, are solid one with the other, as also with the two first. They operate a steam-valve 9. The diaphragm 7 is continuously exposed on its lower face to the pressure which exists in the feed apparatus 1, as well as in the boiler l1 to be fed, and this equilibrates the strain that this pressure exerts on the diaphragm 4 of the same area supporting the liquid, as all the diaphragms are fixed to the same single rod 10. With regard to the upper diaphragm 8, which has the same area as the one, 5, situated right at the bottom, it is in the same way intended to relieve therefrom the pressure of the boiler which is exerted on its lower face, for owing to the opening of the valve 9, carried by the upper extremity of the rod of the diaphragms when these latter are raised, the steam will pass above the liquid contained in the feeddrum 3 in order to force same into the bottom of the feed apparatus and thence into the boiler by the lower valve 6, which at the same time opens. It is owing to this special arrangement that the pressure of the boiler to be fed is equilibrated on all the members of the feed apparatus, so that it is no longer an obstacle to the rising of the diaphragms for effecting the feed when the liquid falls below the determined level. Arrangements are adapted, as will be hereinafter explained, for insuring the filling of the tank 2 and the feeddrum 3 each time that these receptacles have supplied the liquid necessary for a feed.

As shown in Fig. 2, the lower part of the body of the feed apparatus proper, 1 com- IOO ing 18 prevents from rlsing. In the interior.

cylinder 13 the brass shell 19 of a doubleseated valve 6 is inserted. This lower part of the apparatus is surmounted by a sleeve or extension 20, provided with a cross-bar 21,

, into which a headed ring 22 is screwed, serving as a guide to the rod 1() of the diaphragms and as an abutment to the lower diaphragm 5, thus permitting the lift of the valve 6 to be regulated at will. The lower diaphragm 5, which is solid with the portion of the hollow rod 10, constituted by the prolongation of this valve, receives the constant pressure of the water contained in the feed-drum 3. It is connected to the shell of the receptacle by a tight flexible membrane 23, which may be of leather, india-rubber, &c. The said sleeve 20 is provided with a fitting 24, constituting a leakage-indicator, enabling to be ascertained by the temperature of the water which may flow therefrom which of the two membranes may have become defective, either the lower one, which receives the pressure of the cold water, or that situated above, which supports the hot water proceeding from the boiler. This arrangement of guiding open to the air suppresses the chance of incrustation.

Above t ie sleeve or extension 20 there is the space 25, which constitutes the feed-vessel. It is providedwith two tubes placed on the same side, the lower one, 26, of which is the direct communication with the waterspace of the boiler 11, while the other, 27, is the direct communication with its steamspace. The vessel is closed at the bottom and top by a diaphragm 4, with a closing membrane 55 and a diaphragm 7, with membrane 56, both fixed on the rod 10, which carries the water-valve 6 and the steam-valve 9. At the top the rod 10 is guided open to the air in the same manner as at bottom by a ring 30, screwed intothe cross-bar 29 cf an extension 28, which is provided with a leakage-indicating fitting 31.

The body of the feed apparatus terminates at its upper part in a space 32, which contains the diaphragm 8, provided with a closing-membrane 33. As has already been explained, this diaphragm receives the pressure of the steam during the feed periods to equilibrate the pressure that the water exercises beyond its weight on the lower diaphragm 5. These two diaphragms should therefore be of the same area. The part 32 carries a vertical ring 34, to which the steam-valve 9 is attached. The box of the steam-valve 9 is composed of two concentric cylinders 35 and 36, with two tubes 37 and 38. The tube 37, in direct communication with the boiler, conveysthe steam to the interior cylinder 36 between two exactly-equal surfaces, one of which is the valve 9, which when it is raised permits the steam to pass into the exterior cylinder 35. The other is a grooved piston 39, serving to guide the valve and insure tightness. From the exterior cylinder 35 the steam passes by the tube 38 to the upper art of the feed-drum 3, and, on the other land, passing by the openings 40, it proceeds into the space 32 to exert its pressure on the diaphragm 8.

The feed-drum 3, Figs. 1 and 3, is provided. with a water-gage 41 and with an inspectiondoor 42. A tube 43 conveys thereto the steam proceeding from the boiler 11, when the feed-valve 9 is opened. On the other hand, a tube 44 conveys the water driven out by the pressure of this steam to the tube 14 of the feed apparatus. Finally, a tube 45 establishes communication between the drum 3 and the tank 2, which is the initial feed source. At the top of the drum an air-valve 46 permits the atmospheric pressure being maintained in the drum, so as to insure the entrance of the water proceeding from the tank. This valve is an upwardly-closing valve. Tt is guided by its wings and by the air-entrance tube 47, which serves as its rod. The tank 2, open to the air, receives the feed-water from a cock 48, provided with a ball 49, the lever 50 of which turns round the fixed point 51 and bears on the rod 52 of the cock, so as to open the latter through the intermediary of a spring-piece 53, so as to counteract the tendency of the oat to rise at the moment when the water from drum 3 is placed under pressure. The bottom ofthe tank is provided with a downwardly-opening valve 54 for placing the tank in communication with the feed-drum. From the preceding description the operation of the apparatus will be readily understood. As long as the level in the boiler has not fallen below the level fixed the diaphragms of the feed apparatus 1, mounted on the same rod, remain lowered by the weight IOO of water which bears on one of them. The

water and steam valves 6 and 9 will therefore remain closed, and consequently no entrance of the liquid into the boiler nor arrival of steam into the drum can take place.. The

steam which was contained in the latter during the feed period will atonce condense, and this causes the air-valve 46 to reopen, reestablishing atmospheric pressure 'in the drum. The valve 54 of the tank also opens under the weight of water, the drum with which thisA tank communicates being no longer under pressure, and the liquid flowsv from the tank into thedrum, so as to reestablish the same level in these two recep tacles.

When the boiler requires water, the feeddiaphragms rise, opening the steam-valve 9 at the saine time as thewater-valve 6. The steam passes into the drum, places it under pressure, closes its air-valve 46, as well as the valve of communication 54 with the tank, and the water from the drum passes into the boiler by the valve 6 until the diaphragms fall back and replace the system under the conditions previously indicated, ready to effect a new feed when this shall be necessary.

It will be understood that it is possible to make the apparatus more or less sensitive, as desired-in other words, to cause the wateradmission valve to rise for greater or less variations in level by` varying the areas of the diaphragms of the feed apparatus and the pressure exerted thereon.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An automatic apparatus for feeding receptacles under pressure with liquids, consisting in the combination of: a closed vessel; a tube placing said vessel in communication with the water-space of the receptacle to be fed; a tube placing same in communication with the steam-space of such receptacle; a flexible diaphragm attached to the wall of said vessel by a tight joint, and on its under face exposed to the pressure of the feed-water; a tube in said vessel for the entrance of the feed liquid beneath said diaphragm; a

,tube for the passage of this liquid to the receptacle to be fed; a valve for controlling this escape of the feed liquid, and carried by the rod of said diaphragm; a second flexible diaphragm mounted on the same rod as the former, upon which rests the liquid contained in the vessel; a third diaphragm carried by the same rod and situated above the liquid; a fourth diaphragm above the preceding one and still carried by the same rod; a valve-box at the upper part ofthe vessel, formed of two concentric walls the inner one of which carries the steam-valve seat; a steam-valve connected to the rod of the diaphragms above mentioned; a tube in the interior wall of the said valve-box, leading to vthe steam-space of the receptacle to be fed; tube in the exterior wall of said valve-box, for the exit of the steam when the valve is opened; a grooved piston mounted on the steam-valve rod; openings for the passage of the steam from the annular space of the valve-box into the space situated above the fourth diaphragm above mentioned.

2. An automatic apparatus for feeding receptacles under pressure with liquids, consisting in the combination of a closed vessel; a tube placing said vessel in communication with the water-space of the receptacle to be fed; a tube placing same in communication with the steam-space of such receptacle; a flexible diaphragm attached to the wall of said vessel by a tight joint, and on itsunder face exposed to the pressure of the feed-water; a tube in said vessel for the entrance of the feed liquid beneath said diaphragm; a tube for the passage of this liquid to the receptacle to be fed; a valve for controlling this escape of the feed liquid, and carried by the rod of said diaphragm; a second flexible diaphragm mounted on the same rod as the former., upon which rests the liquid contained in the vessel; a third diaphragm carried by the same rod and situated above the liquid, a fourth diaphragm above the preceding one and still carried by the same rod; a valve-box at the upper part of the vessel, formed of two concentric walls the inner one of which carries the steam-valve seat a steam-valve connected to the rod of the diaphragms above mentioned; a tube in the interior wall of the said valve-box, leading to the steam-space of the receptacle to be fed; tube in the exterior wall of said valve-box, for the exit of the steam when the valve is opened; a grooved piston mounted on the steam-valve rod.; openings for the passage of the steam from the annular space of the valve-box into the space situated above the fourth diaphragm above mentioned; a feed-drum; a tube proceeding from toward the upper part of this drum and communicating with .the steamexit tube of the valve-box above mentioned; a tube proceeding from the bottom of said drum and conveying the feed-water to the water-supply tube of the vessel with diaphragms; a tube also proceeding from the bottom of said drum and placing it in ccmmunic'a tion with a feed-tank an air-entrance orifice at the top of said drum; a valve closing such orifice under the action of steam-pressure in the interior of the drum; a feed-tank a tube placing same in communication with the above-mentioned feed-drum; a valve on such tube, opening under the weight of the liquid and closing under the influence of external pressure; a cock for the filling of said tank; a ball; a lever attached to this ball and acting elastically on vthe closing member of the cock.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our invention we have signed our names, in presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of July, 1906.

FRANCOIS MARIE GASTON DE LA ROCHEFOUCAU'LD. MAURICE JUSTIN lllliANll. Witnesses:

CHARLES APP, ALCIDE FABER.

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